Smart Tips for Smooth Holiday Air Travel

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) November 3, 2005 -- Anyone who hasn�t flown for a while, but will be during Thanksgiving or the upcoming holidays, may be in for some surprises. While most travelers are now accustomed to security inspections, there are always new twists. Susan Foster, packing expert and author of �Smart Packing for Today's Traveler� (www.smartpacking.com, $19.95 pb), offers some sage advice to help make Thanksgiving and other holiday travel less stressful.

Changes That Will Affect Your Travel:

1. Fees Now Charged for Curbside Check-in:

If you like using convenient curbside check-in, be aware that several airlines are now charging a service fee of $2 per bag to check luggage at the curb. Plan to tip the skycap in addition to this airline-imposed $2 charge. If you plan to use this service, call your airline or airport or check their websites to determine if this fee is charged now at your airport, or if they plan to implement this in the future. Then you can decide if the convenience is worth the fee plus the skycap tip.

2. Most Flights Are Full
As cost-cutting measures continue to be a focus, airlines are cutting flights, which means that almost every flight is full. This is sure to be the case during holiday travel. Places to stow carry-on baggage are at a minimum, and the ability to easily access items placed in the overhead bins is limited, make sure anything needed during the flight is in a carry-on that will easily fit under the seat in front of you. In addition to something to read and a sweater if the blowers make you chilly, you might want to add to your carry-on:

� food/snacks (even first class has very limited food served)
� water (the cart may not be getting to your area when you really want/need a drink) and
� a small travel pillow, like the one made by McRoskey Airflex (www.McRoskey.com), to support your head or lower back. �Some U.S. carriers have discontinued use of small on-board pillows. If you plan to sleep or tend to get back aches, you may want to bring your own clean travel pillow. Check with your airline before leaving home,� Foster suggests.

Smart Travel Coping Skills:

1. Don�t Over-do it

Call your airline or check their website to learn specific checked baggage rules for how many bags each person is allowed, and the size and weight limits for each bag (most allow 2 bags per person, 50 pounds maximum per bag). Then pack at least one day before departure so there is ample time to weigh each bag on a bathroom scale and pare down before leaving home. Otherwise, items may have to be shifted between bags or to a carry-on at the airport to avoid a hefty fee.

3. Don�t Wrap Gifts
If you are taking along gifts, wait to do the wrapping at your destination. Packages may be unwrapped and inspected, so travelers are encouraged to either ship wrapped packages in advance or travel with unwrapped gifts. Better yet, consider shopping at your destination or buying gift cards to travel light and avoid the hassles.

This is just some of the advice Foster offers both in her book, �Smart Packing for Today's Traveler,� and on her web site, www.smartpacking.com. She wishes everyone a hassle-free trip so there will be more to be thankful for when you reach your destination and again when you arrive home.